Rubber band package and method of making same



Nov. 8, 1932, K. R. SHAW RUBBER BAND PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Original Filed May 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet NOV 8, 1932. I R, SHAW 1,885,842

RUBBER BAND PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Original Filed May 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Patented ov. 8, 1%32 KENNETH R. SHAW, OF EASTEAMPTON, MASSAfiHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 EASTHAMPTQN RUBBER THREAD 00., GE EASTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CGRPORATION OE SAGEUSETTS RUBBER BAND PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING 5 Original application filed May 5, 1930,

This invention relates to the manufacture and merchandising of rubber bands and is a division of my pending application Serial No. 449,815, filed May 5, 1980.

The 'usual method of packaging rubber bands for distribution to the trade consists in placing a definite quantity of loose-bands in a box, or in collecting a certain number of bands in a bunch or bundle and encircling them with another band to hold together the individual bands inthe bundle. Both methodsinvolve a very considerable amount of hand labor and are, therefore, relatively expensive. In neither method are the bands arranged in any definite order, and conse quently they occupy an excessive amount of shipping space.

The present invention deals especially with these considerations. It aims to improve the methods of making rubber bands and rubber band packageswith a view to reducing the labor involved and providing a package which will be neater, more compact, more convenient to handle, and which will'facilitate the use of the hands by the ultimate consumer.

The nature of the invention will be readily Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating details of another package embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the completed package, a portion of which is shown in Fi 4; and

igs. 6 and 7 are sectional and perspective views, respectively, of still another embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a rubber tube, such as those from which rubber bands Serial No. 449,815. Divided and this application filed January 18,

Serial Ho. 509,230.

are cut, is indicated at 2. Such a tube may be made according to any usual or suitable process and of any desired dimensions. According to the method illustrated one or more strips 3 of paste, glue, mucilage, or adhesive of any suitable kind, are applied to a support or backing strip 4 of paper, cardboard, or

other appropriate material, cardboard usualthen is pressed against the coated surface of the backing strip and is adhesively fastened thereto. These operations may be performed by hand or with the aid of relatively simple equipment, including means for rolling the adhesive coating or coatings on the strip 4 .ly being preferred, and the rubber tube 2 length of the rubber tube is adhesively secured to the backing strip 4 by the adhesive coating or coatings 3, the cutting operation will leave each individual band adhesively fastened to'the backing strip. This cutting operation may be performed by' hand with shears or other cutting implements. The operation is expedited, however, by using an organization shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 and comprising a table 7 over which the tube 2 and the backing strip 4 are fed. A stationary shearing block 8 is provided at the end of the table 7, and a vertically reciprocating knife 9 cooperates with this shearing blockto cut the tube 2 into individual bands 10. Preferably a presserfoot or stripper 12 is associated with the knife 9 and is spring pressed downwardly slightly below the edge of the knife where it servesto ress the tube fiat against the upper edge 0 the shearing block while the nife 9 passes down in contact with the frontdi'ace of the block and cuts through the tube 2, this'member 12 also serving to prevent the tube from sticking to and following the knife as the latter rises. The cutting operation also is facilitated by making the cutting edge 9' of the knife inclined so that the cut starts at one edge of the tube and progresses across the tube to the opposite edge.- A part of this cut is made against the backing strip 4, and it usually is desirable to carry the cut some what beyond that edge of the tube lying on the backing strip so that the complete separation of the individual bands from each other and from the tube will be ensured. In the' arrangement shown in Fig. 2 the knife 9 cuts not only through the tube but also through a considerable portion'of the backing strip 4. The tube is cut and then advanced or fed lengthwise a short distance equal to the width of the band desired, and out again, these cutting and feeding movements being repeated indefinitely to produce a continuous line or row of bands lying side by side.

The tendency of the cut edges of the tubes to readhere to or reunite with each other has proved to be a particularly troublesome factor in making rubber bands by this method. I have found, however, that this difficulty can effectually be overcome by heating the knife 9. This may conveniently be accomplished by securing a fiat electric heating unit 13 of a common type to one face of the knife 9, the unit being equipped with binding posts 14 for the attachment thereto of the supply conductors. A high degree of heat is not required, a temperature of, say, 200 to 300 F., or about that at which the ordinary fiat iron is used, being suflicient. The reasons for this improved result are not entirely clear, but I have definitely deter? mined that the heating of the knife in the manner just described eflz'ectually overcomes the tendency of the cut surfaces of the rubber tube to reunite. When the bands are formed in this manner they do not adhere to each other notwithstanding the fact that they lie side by side in contact with each other.

When the knife 9 has made a predetermined number of cuts and thus produces a corresponding number of bands, it may be given an additional longer cutting stroke to sever the strip 4, thus producing a package containing a definite number of bands each secured to the backing strip. Or, the backing strip may be cut by hand to produce packages of the desired lengths. A label 15, Fig. 3, bearing a trade-mark, or the manufacturers or distributors name, and any other desired information, may be cemented to one side of the backing strip.

The packages produced in this manner may be merchandisedwithout further preparation. The adhesive union between each band 10 and the backing strip 4, while readily breakable, nevertheless has ample strength to prevent accidental removal of the bands.

In such a package the bands are arranged in an orderly manner so that they occupy a minimum-0f shipping space. This arrangement also facilitates the use of the bands by the ultimate consumer, it being merely necessary, when he wishes to use a band, to pull one off the backing 4, the other bands remaining undisturbed by such removal.

A further variation of the package above described is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in which the backing strip 4 is folded upon itself to bring the entire row of bands 10 over upon one face of the uncut portion of the cardboard support or backing strip 4. A label or hinder 16 having its ends cemented to the rear surface of the backing strip 4 is stretched across the row of bands 10 where it overlies thenrand holds them collectiveiliy against the backing strip. If desired a st1 ening piece 17 may be inserted between the folds of the backing strip to give additional rigidity to the entire package.

I Still another embodiment of the lnvention is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in which the backing strip 4 is made approximately equal to or slightly wider than the width of the rubber tube when in its flattened condition, and the tube for its entire Width is superposed on the backing strip and is adhesively unlted thereto near the opposite edges of said strip. The tube may be out while in this position by a knife or cutter which cuts against the backing strip but does not cut through it, the knife having a straight edge extending parallel to the backing 'strip. This cutting operation divides the tube into individual bands 10', each adhesively secured to the backing strip 4', and the strip later is cut into suit able lengths for individual packages. Preferably a binding strip or label 17 is stretched across the entire row of bands 10', as shown in Fig. 7, and its ends are fastened to the backing strip 4'. If the backing stri is made somewhat wider than as shown in ig. 7, the knife may be made to cut through the backing strip leaving uncut margins at opposite ends of the bands.

It will now be appreciated that the invention materially reduces the hand labor involved in packaging rubber bands for distribution through the ordinary merchandising channels, and that it provides a novel rubber band package which not only can be manufactured economically but which is neat and attractive in appearance and is convenient to handle. The fact that the bands are held in definite and orderly relationship in readiness for use and until the supply in the package is completely exhausted is a material advantage to the users of these goods.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred method of procedure, it will be understood that some latitude in procedure is permissible within the scope of the invention, and that the process of this invention nesaeaa can be practiced by hand or with the aid of a great variety of forms of apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. That improvement in methods of making rubber band packages which consists in adhesively fastening a rubber tube to a backing strip of sheet material, and then cutting said tube into bands.

2. That improvement in methods of making rubber band packages which consists 1n adhesively fastening a rubber tube to a backing strip of sheet material, and cutting transversely through said tube at relatively short intervals and through a part only of said strip to cut the tube into bands.

3. That improvement in methods of making rubber band packages which consists in adhesively securing a continuous stri of the surface of a rubber tube to a backing strip of sheet material leaving a substantial part of said surface unattached to said backing strip, and cutting transversely through sai tube and a portion of said backing stri at relatively short intervals to produce indlvidual rubber bands each adhesively fastened to said backing strip.

a. That improvement in methods of making rubber band packages which consists in adhesively securing a continuous strip of the surface of a rubber tube to a backing strip of sheet material leaving the greater part of said tube unattached to said backing strip and extending beyond the edge thereof, cutting transversely through said tube and a portion of said strip at relatively short intervals to cut the tube into bands, and causing each cutting operation to progress across the Width of the tube.

5. That improvement in methods of making rubber band packages which consists in cementing a substantial width of a flattened rubber tube to the margin of a backing strip of sheet material leaving a considerable part of said tube projecting beyond the edge of said backing strip, and cutting said tube into bands while so supported and thereby leaving the individual bands so formed attached to said backing strip.

6. That improvement in methods of making rubber band packages which consists in adhesively fastening a rubber tube to a backing strip of sheet material, cutting transversely through said tube at relatively short intervals and through a portion of said strip to cut the tube into bands lying side by side in a row, placing a binding strip across the outer face of said row of bands, and fastening tile ends of said binding strip to said backing s rip.

7. That improvement in methods of makmg rubber band packages which consists in adhesively fastening a rubber tube to a backmg strip of sheet material, and cutting through said tube transversely at relatively I shor intervals to produce individual rubber bands while leaving the bands so formed ad= hesively fastened to said strip and held together by said strip.

8. That improvement in methods of making rubber band packages which consists in adhesively securing a continuous strip of the surface of a rubber tube to a backing strip of sheet material leaving the greater part of said tube unattached to said backing strip, forcing a cutting instrument transversely through said tube to sever the tube, relatively feeding the tube and said instrument lengthwise of the tube a distance equal to the width of the rubber banddesired, and repeating said cutting and feeding operations to divide said tube into a series of bands,

KENNETH R. SHAW. 

